USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harrison > Centennial history of Harrison, Maine > Part 26
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ness !!! " uttering the expression with increasing force ; the last time with a shout to the extent of his power. That was all he said and he sat down with the tears streaming, while the congregation were electrified and many weeping for sympathy.
Deacon Bray was one of the prime factors in the move- ment for the erection of the first Free Will Baptist meeting- house in 1836, and was a contractor for quite a portion of the work of building. He died September 26, 1865. His widow died March 28, 1866. Their children were:
I. Miriam, b. May 27, 1815; married Simeon Chad- bourne of Harrison. (See Chadbourne family.)
2. Charlotte H., b. May 2, 1817; married William C. Hill of Harrison. They were the parents of Dr. Edward Henry Hill, b. May 7, 1844, a distinguished physician of Lewiston, Me., for many years, who died in that city, July 17, 1904; also of Dr. Horace B. Hill, who was assistant superintendent of the State Hospital for the Insane, many years. Mrs. Hill died June 12, 1866. Mr. Hill, a life-long and much respected citizen, died Mar. 27, 1895, aged 78 years.
3. Susan, b. Apr. 17, 1819; married Samuel W. Chad- bourne of Harrison. They resided in a house erected by Mr. Chadbourne, many years, until their migra- tion to Wisconsin in The house is now owned as the home of Albert F. Cummings. Samuel and Susan Chadbourne had one son, Cyrus, who lives at Fond du Lac, Wis. Mrs. Chadbourne was a woman of gentle and refined character, a sweet singer; for many years a member of the Free Baptist Church, and a faithful and efficient member of the choir.
4. Ann, b. June 2, 1824; died Sept. 13, 1825.
5. Sarah Ann, b. Aug. 2, 1827; died July 13, 1828.
6. Edward, Jr., b. Dec 21, 1830; married Abby Bartlett of Harrison (b. Feb. 21, 1830) ; died June 14, 1898. Their children : Nellie Grace, b. Aug. 26, 1861. She was early noted for her love of learning and for her proficiency in all the common branches of school study. She prepared for college at Bridgton Acad-
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emy, graduating class of 1881. She was afterward (1882 to 1887) preceptress and teacher of Greek at that institution a number of years before entering college. She graduated from Bates College, Lew- iston, in class of 1891. Soon after her graduation, she was married to Fremont L. Pugsley, principal of Henniker, N. H. High School. He was after . ward principal of the Lyndon, Vt., Institute. In this educational work Mrs. Pugsley assisted her husband as teacher of Greek. They had one son, Howard Bray Pugsley, b. June 7, 1896; died April 15, 1897. Flora Delle, b. June 14, 1864. She was equally distinguished with her sister for her fine scholar- ship during all her student years. She graduated from Bridgton Academy in 1884. She was married Jan. 14, 1891 to Dr. Charles B. Sylvester of Casco. Their children: Ruth Bartlett, b. May 8, 1892. Lawrence Bray, b. July 13, 1893. Mrs. Flora (Bray) Sylvester died June 3, 1895. Dr. Sylvester sub- sequently married Mary Florence Whitney. (See Whitney family.)
EDWARD BRAY, JR., was in early life a farmer, and for years was successful in that business. He eventually learned the painting trade, and established a shop for car- riage painting at Harrison Village, at the same time doing a large business in house painting and room decoration. He was an excellent workman in everything he undertook to do. He also adopted the business of funeral under- taker, and had in connection with his shop, a store of goods which he managed under the auspices of the Lake- side Grange, P. of H. He was elected a deacon of the Free Baptist Church of which he was long an honored member, and was distinguished for his faithfulness in that sacred office. He was a member of the order of F. & A. Masons and of Odd Fellows, and was much esteemed by those brotherhoods. As a man and citizen he was a pat- tern of kindness and honesty in every relation of life, and had the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. He
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died December 14, 1898. Mrs. Abby (Bartlett) Bray died June 14, 1898.
NICHOLAS, third son of Nicholas, the pioneer, was born in Minot, Maine, in 1794; married Abigail Buck- nell and lived in Harrison a number of years; he subse- quently moved to Whitefield, New Hampshire, and labored as a Baptist minister. His children were: Moses, So- phronia, Ruth, Christiana, Lucy, Abigail, Drusilla, Sarah, Martha, and Samuel.
The five children of Nicholas Ist, were all daughters, viz .: Polly, who married Obed Mann of Whitefield, New Hampshire. Fidelia, married Philip Caswell of Harrison (see Caswell family). Anna, married Evans Wilson of , Maine, September 9, 1819; a daughter who mar- ried Asa Bradford of Turner, Maine, and another who married Whitney of Phillips, Maine.
The absence of any reliable information concerning the details of the families of these five daughters (excepting the family of Philip Caswell), renders further history of them and their families impossible. This once numerous and locally distinguished family has now no representative of its name in the town and only a few somewhat remotely descended from the worthy old Revolutionary soldier, Nich- olas Bray.
BRIGGS FAMILY.
WILLIAM H. BRIGGS was born in Norway, July 29, 1847. He married Pamelia C. Yeaton of Buckfield (born Dec. 14, 1851) in Oxford, Oct. 6, 1868. Children :
CORA EVA, b. in South Paris, July 3, 1869; resides in Port- land; unmarried.
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EFFIE MAY, b. Oct. 20, 1873; married Stephen Pembroke of Bridgton. Children :
I. Gracie, b. Mar. 22, 1898, in Mexico, Me.
2. William Irving, and Winifred Irene, twins, b. in Harrison, May 30, 1899.
3. Ruberta Dorothea, b. May 6, 1903, in North Bridg- ton.
4. Coralie, b. in Bridgton, July 15, 1905.
EVELYN, b. May 12, 1876, in Yarmouth, Me.
GRACE MARIA, b. in Portland, Jan. 19, 1878; married John H. Procter, of Bridgton, Apr. 25, 1900. Mr. Procter is a son of Horace F. Procter of Bridgton, noted as one of the most skilled mechanics in the State in the trade of carpenter and builder for about thirty years past, with whom John H., the son, has been in late years associated. Together they have executed some of the largest con- tracts for the erection of dwelling houses and other buildings in the county outside of Portland. They were the builders of the new Odd Fellows Hall and other buildings in Harrison Village, and the stately mansion and outbuildings of J. Howard Randall of South Har- rison, the most elegant and costly group of home build- ings in the town or near vicinity. Horace F. and John H. Procter have the present year removed from North Bridgton to Avon, Franklin Co., Me., to engage in a large enterprise of lumber manufacturing where they own extensive tracts of timber land and mills. John H. Procter represented Cumberland County in the State Sen- ate in 1906-7.
William H. Briggs came to Harrison from Portland in 1883, and purchased the farm known as the "Deacon Walk- er" farm, where he has since resided. He is distinguished for his energy and intelligence as a farmer and is successful in general culture of his land; also in apple growing and small fruit culture. His home is one of the most beautiful in situation and in respect to its adornment by a wide lawn and flower-plats which rightly entitle it to be named "Floral Lawn Farm." Mr. Briggs is also noted for his public
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spirit and liberality in advancing all enterprises for promot- ing the welfare of religion, education and social morality. He represented his district in the legislature of 1901; was chairman of the committee on the Centennial Celebration of 1905, and Chairman of the building committee on the erection of Odd Fellows Block in 1907. He is a leading and influential member of Lakeside Grange, P. of H. Mrs. Briggs is equally distinguished with her husband for her interest in affairs of religious and social advancement.
BUCK FAMILY.
HENRY L. BUCK was born in Norway, July 21, 1810, but we have been unable to obtain anything in regard to the early history of the family from which he sprung. When about twenty-one years of age he came to Harrison, and bought what was then known as the "Clement Phin- ney Farm" in the south part of the town, it being the same farm that is now owned and occupied by Adelbert C. Buck. After remaining there for a short time he went South where he remained for about five years, being located in Georgia, we think. After his return he followed the sea for a short time, and also navigated the old "Cumberland and Oxford Canal" route in a "canal-boat" known as "The Boxer." While on the canal he was a leading spirit among the boatmen, and every one expected fun when Buck's boat, - the old "Boxer" - would heave in sight. It was often said that one could "hear Buck laugh a mile away," and he had a trick of making his presence known in the night by crowing, which he could do so well that it would shame any common rooster. His friends never mistook that signal.
He next returned to his Harrison farm upon which he went to work in earnest, the same as he worked at every- thing. He made additions to his house, and also bought
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more land, including timber lands in Harrison, Otisfield, and Stoneham, which appear to have been good investments. He was a great worker, laboring incessantly, early and late, and expected others to do likewise, having very little sym- pathy with an idle person. He was a man of iron con- stitution, energetic and persevering, daylight not always being a necessary accompaniment to his work.
He was an old time fifer of militia days, was fond of all kinds of legitimate fun, had a keen appreciation of the humorous, and was a great joker, sometimes going so far with this that the victim would take genuine offense. Mr. Buck, however, was not one of this kind, for he would take any kind of a well meant joke in good humor, and it was all the same to him if he was the last victim, though this seldom happened. He was of a lively dis- position, jolly and social, and the best of company, keep- ing open house to all friends. In politics he was an un- swerving Democrat, and could always be relied upon to cast his vote for the "straight ticket" at all State and National elections, though his interest in politics seldom went beyond this, and he usually spent but little time in learning much about the qualifications of the candidates. He preferred to let others do all the work and receive all the rewards, while he was engaged in more congenial occupations. In his early days he had no special religious preferences, but later in life he became a member of the South Harrison Methodist Church, and contributed lib- erally towards its support.
On October 20, 1843, he married Ruth A., youngest daughter of Stevens and Rebecca (Kilborn) Ingalls, who is still living at home with her son Adelbert, and, with the exception of lameness caused by a fall some years ago, is remarkably well preserved for a woman of her age. She has an education so that she was a very successful school teacher before her marriage, and is intelligent above the average. On almost everything relating to the past his-
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tory of the town or its inhabitants she is well posted, show- ing a most remarkable memory, and has rendered the writer much valuable assistance in preparing some por- tions of this work.
Henry L. Buck died at his home, September 21, 1893, after a long period of ill health. His children, all born in Harrison, were as follows:
H. OVILLA, b. Feb. 25, 1845; married Albion Knight of Raymond, and is living in that town. She has one daughter.
GEORGE H., b. Jan. II, 1847; adopted the law as a pro- fession, and moved to California, where he is now a judge; is married.
CHARLES A., b. March 3, 1848; was educated in the com- mon schools, and at Bridgton Academy; went to Boston when young, and secured a position, but soon gave it up and went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where a better opening was presented. He at once entered the employ of a railroad company, and was so faithful to his trust that he speedily secured the confidence of his employers, and was soon promoted to the position of conductor on one of the great Western railroads. Shortly after this he was taken sick, and after a short illness he died on Jan. 31, 1872, aged about 24. He was a very promising young man, and made friends wherever he went. The following from one who knew him well, was a well deserved tribute: "The death of this estimable young man deserves more than a passing notice. No young man ever made a more favorable impression by his intelligent, honest, and manly deportment. He had an aim and object in life, which carried its influence for good wherever he went."
REBECCA F., b. Sept. 18, 1850; married Oscar E. Bell of Waterford, Me., and moved to Egan, So. Dakota, where they took up their residence, Mr. Bell entering into farm- ing on quite an extensive scale. Mrs. Bell was taken sick, and for many years was almost helpless from "slow paralysis," dying Dec. 10, 1889, at the age of 39 years, leaving her husband and three children, who are still living in Dakota.
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LIZZIE F., b. March 2, 1853; was a successful teacher for some years; married George H. Greene of Otisfield, and lived on the Greene homestead in that town for many years, and then moved to the "Clem Riggs Farm" near North Bridgton, where they now reside. Her husband has taught several successful terms of common school, has served repeatedly on the School Board in Otisfield, and also on the Board of Selectmen; was Representa- tive to the Legislature in 1887, being elected as a Re- publican over Sumner H. Wardwell, Democrat, from the classed towns of Harrison, Otisfield, and Casco, and running ahead of his ticket. He is a member of the
Board of Trustees of Bridgton Academy, an institution in which he takes much interest. Mr. and Mrs. Greene are valued members of Lakeside Grange, both being persons of exceptional ability. They have had five chil- dren, Bertha, Philip, Charles, Howard, and Helen. Ber- tha married A. P. Clark of Bridgton, where she now resides; Philip was the victim of a sad drowning ac- cident in Massachusetts, during the past summer ; Charles is attending Bowdoin College; and the other two are at home attending school at Bridgton Academy.
ADELBERT C., b. July 17, 1855; married Alice Dorman of Bolster's Mills, and lives at home.
HOWARD M., b. Nov. 7, 1857; was educateed in common . schools, and Bridgton Academy, and has taught school in Maine, and in the West. He first went to New York, and worked a year for a lumber firm, then emigrated to the West, making his home in Egan, So. Dakota, where he has been a farmer, teacher, trader, and hotel keeper, and is reputed to have been successful in business. He has also been to the Klondike, going when the excite- ment was at its height, and spending about two years, and while there he became quite an "Arctic Explorer," staying for a time in the region to the north of the Arc- tic Circle. His trip was said to have been a success, and he is now back in his Dakota home. Judging fron the notices that he receives from the home papers, he is one of the leading men in Egan. He is married, and has three children, Harold, Henry, and Ruth.
G. NORMAN, b. July 13, 1861 ; died in Lordsburg, N. M., June 23, 1887.
JUDGE GEORGE H. BUCK REDWOOD CITY, CAL.
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TOWN OF HARRISON.
GEORGE H. BUCK, oldest son of Henry L. and Ruth A. (Ingalls) Buck, was born in Harrison, January II, 1847, and received his early education in the common schools, and in Bridgton Academy which he attended while under the charge of Charles E. Hilton, and of John B. Wight. While at the Academy he showed himself to be an ambitious student of good ability, who was bound to succeed in whatever he undertook, even if it was at the expense of considerable sacrifice. There was at one time quite a contest among the students of the Academy to see who would run "around the square" the quickest. There were others who were more robust than young Buck, but he won the race by sheer pluck and perse- verance, but it was at the expense of a severe sickness, he having, in his great desire to win, continued the contest far beyond his strength. It was the same with his studies, and he always ranked high in all of them.
He early determined on the law as his chosen profession, and shaped his course accordingly, but was obliged to make his way largely by his own efforts, thus making his progress rather slow, as he had to teach school to get the money to pay his way. In his teaching he showed the same energy as in everything else, and was unusually successful, teaching several terms in Harrison, Otisfield, and other towns. He studied law to some extent as soon as possible, and as early as he could do so opened an office at North Windham, where he was located for a short time. Wish- ing to be better prepared for the life that he had chosen, he closed up his office and went to Boston, where he entered the law office of Woodbury & Ingalls as a law student. He completed his studies there so that he passed the necessary examination, and was admitted to the Mas- sachusetts bar in 1871.
Shortly after he went West, and secured a position as an associate attorney for the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad, a position which some who were jealous
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of his success alluded to as "cattle lawyer," on account of a part of his business being the settlement of claims against the roads, among which was the payment for cattle ac- cidentally killed. He held the position till 1874, to the complete satisfaction of his employers, but had a desire to go higher and resigned in that year. Seeing what he believed to be a more promising opening, he went to Redwood City, California, where he began to practice law, and by strict integrity and close attention to business he was so successful that he was elected to the position of District Attorney in 1882, and he held that office until 1890, when the people asked him to "step up higher," and accept the position of Judge of the Superior Court for San Mateo County, and he still holds the position, having been regularly reelected up to the present time.
One of the California papers, published in San Mateo County, speaks of Judge Buck thus: "He is one of the brightest, straightest, cleanest judges on the bench in Cal- ifornia. He is a Democrat where Democrats go regularly to defeat, but he comes up smiling election after election, in a county which is overwhelmingly Republican. On the bench he is 'Judge,' not Democrat or Republican - a judge that does things." He has the reputation of being strictly non-partisan while on the bench, and of rendering decisions that are entirely impartial, a reputation that his continued success at the polls seems to prove true.
His first wife was a Miss Lizzie King of California, who died on March 3, 1893, leaving one son who is now a young man in college. At the time of the death of Mrs. Buck, many flattering notices appeared in the home papers, and the funeral was largely attended, business being sus- pended to some extent so that the dignitaries might be enabled to show their respect for the deceased, and for her much respected husband whom all delight to honor. For second wife he married a Miss Lizzie Fitzpatrick, another California lady. They continue to reside in Redwood City,
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which has been the home of Judge Buck for over thirty years. His property suffered to some extent in the Great Earthquake in 1906, but happily none of the family were injured.
Only a few years ago, Judge Buck made a visit to his Maine home, remaining as long as he could absent himself from the duties of his office. Those who expected to see a man whom success had elevated above his fellows so that he thought that the associates of his youth were un- worthy of recognition, were grievously disappointed, as he made it a point to visit all who were living in the vicinity, and to show them that he was a whole-souled, genial man, whose long and successful career in the Far West had not caused him to forget the friends of his youth. Judge Buck is most certainly a notable example of the many "self made men" who have gone from our town, and risen to eminence through their own efforts.
ADELBERT C. BUCK, third son of Henry L. and Ruth A. (Ingalls) Buck, is the only one of the family that is now a resident of Harrison. He preferred to cast his fortunes in his native town, choosing farming as his call- ing, and making the home farm his home, being the one that was selected to care for the parents. Like his father, he is a great worker, but he cares more for outside mat- ters, and does not confine himself so closely to the "drudg- ery" of farm work. He takes a lively interest in town affairs, and has served as a member of the Board of Se- lectmen. In 1894, he was the candidate of his party for Representative to the Legislature from the classed towns of Harrison, Otisfield, and Casco. He has for many years been a member of Harrison Lodge, I. O. O. F., and has been honored with the highest office in its gift. He and his wife are both prominent members of Lakeside Grange.
Mr. Buck is a successful farmer, and makes a specialty of orcharding, having a large number of young and pro- ductive trees, and also a larger number that have been set
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so recently that they have not yet come into bearing. He is also the owner of valuable timber land, and has lately disposed of quite an amount of standing growth. He has to a great extent remodelled the farm buildings as they came to him from his father. The old rambling struct- ure of a barn, situated "across the road" from the house, has become a thing of the past, and in its stead he has built one on a modern plan on the same side of the road as the other buildings, and connected with them; and the long, low farmhouse has given place to a two-storied, roomy structure more in accordance with modern require- ments. He is a man of progressive ideas, who keeps abreast of the times, and can be relied upon to give his support to all measures that are calculated for the ad- vancement of the town and its inhabitants, and especially in all matters relating to the education of the young, for which he always favors a liberal appropriation.
Mr. Buck married Alice Dorman, daughter of Leander Dorman of Bolster's Mills, and they have given sufficient evidence that they are no believers in the "race suicide" theory, being the parents of ten children, as follows :
Lucetta K., born November 28, 1882, a successful teach- er both in Maine and Massachusetts, and recently married to Clarence S. Hall of North Raymond, Massachusetts, where they are now living. Ruth M., born August 20, 1884, Willard Brett of Otisfield, where they reside; George H., born October 18, 1886, a recent graduate from Bridgton Academy, an excellent teacher, and a very promising young man, who is now pursuing the regular course in Bowdoin College; Rena L., born September 15, 1888, another ex- cellent teacher, who is now at home; Percy C., born De- cember II, 1890, who has just completed his second year in Bridgton Academy; Leland S., born April 6, 1893; A. Carl, born June 11, 1895; Edward Earl, born September I, 1897; Howard R., born October 16, 1898; and Mary E., born January 19, 1903; all at home, excepting Edward
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Earl who has recently died, February 3, 1908, being the only one not alive of this family, which is somewhat remark- able for these times.
NORMAN BUCK, youngest son of Henry L. and Ruth A. (Ingalls) Buck, was born in Harrison, July 13, 1861, and was christened Granville Norman, but saw fit to drop the first name, and was known after his boyhood as Nor- man Buck. He received the usual common school edu- cation of the average country scholar, and made good use of it, showing in early life that he aspired to some profes- sion as a means of gaining a livelihood. He pursued the regular course through Bridgton Academy, and then, hav- ing decided to prepare himself for the law as a profession, he entered Ann Arbor University, from which he grad- uated in 1884, earning money to pay his way by means of canvassing and teaching.
He returned to Harrison, and entered into the political campaign, being an outspoken Democrat. In the Repre- sentative District, composed of Harrison, Otisfield, and Casco, it was Harrison's turn to send the Representative, and Mr. Buck, at the earnest solicitation of his friends, determined to try for the nomination. He was a very promising young man, popular with the masses, and giv- ing evidence of becoming one of the leading men of the country in the future. It was at a time when Democratic caucuses were usually notable for the smallness of the attendance, but there was such an interest in the situation that year, that forty-three votes were registered at the cau- cus to nominate the candidate for Representative, and Nor- man Buck received forty-one out of that number. He at once entered into the campaign in earnest, but he was an unknown man, and without financial backing, while his opponent, Thomas D. Emery, was a thorough politician in touch with all of the managers of his party, was a pop-
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